Officer’s Heartfelt Message Highlights Human Cost of Impaired Driving
SPRINGFIELD, TENNESSEE: (Smokey Barn News) – A local woman remains hospitalized with serious injuries following a head-on crash in Robertson County last Monday. The crash occurred on Tom Austin Highway near Pebble Brook Golf Course. Additional details regarding the crash have now been released.
Smokey Barn News has also been in communication with the family, who expressed their heartfelt appreciation to the community for its prayers, support, and assistance following the crash.
According to a Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) preliminary report obtained by Smokey Barn News, a 2013 Ford F-150 traveling south on Tom Austin Highway crossed the center line and collided head-on with a northbound 2018 GMC Terrain. THP reports that following the impact, both vehicles left the roadway and came to rest in a ditch.
The driver of the GMC Terrain, a 41-year-old local woman, was injured in the crash and remains hospitalized with serious injuries. The driver of the Ford F-150, identified in the report as 49-year-old Jose Angel Ramirez, was not injured.
According to the THP report, Ramirez has been charged with DUI First Offense and Vehicular Assault. The crash remains under investigation by the Tennessee Highway Patrol.
Smokey Barn News has been in communication with the family. The victim’s husband, Curtis Scott, a Lieutenant with the Nashville State Police, is thankful for the kindness of the community in the aftermath of the crash. According to Scott, the crash left his wife with serious injuries, including broken femurs in both legs, a broken tibia in her right leg, and fractured vertebrae in her lower back. He said she is also covered in bruises, from a black eye to bruising that extends down to her feet.
“Thank you to everyone for your thoughts, prayers, and kind words,” Scott told Smokey Barn News. “It means more than I can adequately express to know that complete strangers were willing to take a moment out of their day to think about my family and keep us in their prayers. During difficult times, those gestures of kindness and compassion remind us just how much good there is in the world.
“I also want to extend my sincere gratitude to the civilians who stopped to assist my wife immediately following the crash, as well as the first responders who answered the call. Your professionalism, compassion, and calm demeanor during a chaotic and stressful situation did not go unnoticed. The care and reassurance you provided made a tremendous difference, and my family will always be grateful for your actions.
“As a police officer for the past 20 years, I have responded to far too many crashes involving impaired drivers. Like many first responders, I have witnessed the devastation these incidents leave behind and have comforted families whose lives were forever changed in an instant. Organizations such as MADD, the Tennessee Highway Safety Office, and countless law enforcement agencies work tirelessly to reduce impaired driving and save lives. While there is no way to accurately measure the number of tragedies prevented by the efforts of officers, deputies, troopers, advocates, and educators, their work undoubtedly saves lives every single day.
“Unfortunately, driving under the influence remains an epidemic. For many years, these crashes were incidents I investigated as part of my job. This time, however, it became personal. Experiencing this situation from the perspective of a husband and family member has given me a deeper appreciation for what so many families endure. It has reinforced the importance of continuing the fight against impaired driving and never becoming complacent about the dangers it poses.
“Again, thank you to everyone who reached out, offered support, said a prayer, or lent a helping hand. My family and I are truly grateful. Please do not drink and drive.”
Ramirez was transported to the Robertson County Detention Facility in Springfield, where he was booked under a $40,000 bond. As of this report, he remains in custody. Ramirez is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
